Blogger Widgets Blogger Widgets ¡Mira que luna......! Look at that moon....! Resources for learning English: A Grammar topic a day : GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

!Mira que luna! Look at that moon! Resources for learning English

!Mira que luna! Look at that moon! Resources for learning English
Fernando Olivera: El rapto.- TEXT FROM THE NOVEL The goldfinch by Donna Tartt (...) One night we were in San Antonio, and I was having a bit of a melt-down, wanting my own room, you know, my dog, my own bed, and Daddy lifted me up on the fairgrounds and told me to look at the moon. When "you feel homesick", he said, just look up. Because the moon is the same wherever you go". So after he died, and I had to go to Aunt Bess -I mean, even now, in the city, when I see a full moon, it's like he's telling me not to look back or feel sad about things, that home is wherever I am. She kissed me on the nose. Or where you are, puppy. The center of my earth is you". The goldfinch Donna Tartt 4441 English edition

Monday, June 11, 2012

A Grammar topic a day : GERUND OR INFINITIVE?


 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

The two groups of verbs below can be followed either by the gerund or by the infinitive. Usually this has no effect on the meaning, but with some verbs there is a clear difference in meaning. Verbs marked * can also be followed by a that-clause.

Example: to prefer

I prefer to live in an apartment.
I prefer living in an apartment.


A. Verbs where there is little or no difference in meaning:
allow
attempt
begin
bother
cease
continue
deserve
fear*
hate*
intend*
like
love
neglect
omit
permit
prefer*
recommend*
start

Notes:

1. Allow is used in these two patterns:
a. Allow + object + to-infinitive:
  • Her parents allowed her to go to the party.
b. Allow + gerund:
  • Her parents don't allow smoking in the house.
2. Deserve + gerund is not very common, but is mainly used with passive constructions or where there is a passive meaning:
  • Your proposals deserve being considered in detail.
  • These ideas deserve discussing. (= to be discussed).
3. The verbs hate, love, like, prefer are usually followed by a gerund when the meaning isgeneral, and by a to-infinitive when they refer to a particular time or situation. You must always use the to-infinitive with the expressions 'would love to', 'would hate to', etc.
Compare:
  • I hate to tell you, but Uncle Jim is coming this weekend.
  • I hate looking after elderly relatives!
  • I love dancing.
  • I would love to dance with you.
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